Improvement in explosive compounds



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARD J. WILLIAMS, or sr. LOUIS, 'lvnssooet'assrenon'or ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO LEVERETT A. PRATT, or SAME PLAOE.

IMPROVEMENT-IN EXPLOSlVE COMPOUNDS.

Specification forming pant of LettersPaten t No. 222,169, dated December 2, 1879; application filed 4 I August 20, 1879.

To all "whom 'it may concern: I 1

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. WILLIAMs, of St. Louis, Missouri, have made. a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Compounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. The aim of the present invention is to pro vide a blastingpowder of great strength, readily and economically made, in its usere' quiring but ordinary care, that can be fired with a fuse, that in firing leaves behind no obnoxious ordelcterious gases, that can. be tamped and easily transported-, -and which is not spoiled by. moisture; I i

It consists in the composition formed of the ingredients and in the proportions substantially as follows: After being finely'pulverized by being .passed through a No. v80-si'eve',

take of chlorateof potash, three pounds; of prussiate of potash, one pound; of bichromate ot potash, two ounces ot nutgalls, five ounces; of eannel-coal, two ounces; of .starch, six ounces; also, take of crude coaloil, five ounces.

Mixjall these ingredients thoroughly in a suitable vessel and moisten with water to the consistency of dough. The powder is then grained by running-it through, say, a No.10 sieve, after which it is dried, preferably upon screens, and at a temperature of 90 Fahrenheit, when. it is ready for use. It can be dried, however,'at the ordinary atmospheric temperature. I I I Thecom poun d thus formed, being composed of articles easily obtained, and not requiring. in its manufacture the use of any but the simplest mechanical appliances, and notinvolvin g necessarily the application ofheat, can be readily prepared with ordinary skill and in' any locality.

In using the powder it is fired in the same way as the ordinary black powder.

Several of the ingredients above named tannin, but are superior thereto as adrier and as agenerator' of-explosive gases. The can .n-el-coal gives body to the powder.

The coaloil acts as a fatty substance, enabling the powder to be tauiped and to stand transportation, and also serving to increase the explosive force of the compound; and the'starch unites the other elements, and is of itself a. generator of explosive gas. I

It will also be seen that none of the elements are of a gritty nature.

The hereinbefoledescribedexplosive com-w pou'nd, consisting of chlorate of potash, prussiate of potash, bichroinate of potash, nutgalls, cannehcoal, starch, and crude coal-oil, in the proportions and combined in the manner described.

E. J. WILLiAMs- Witnesses:

CHAS. D. MOODY, L. A. P RATTL 

